Sash construction



July 29, 1958 B. DUFFIELD SASH CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 5. 1954 mm w NE 5w N 1 m D m M m m 2 SASH CGNSTRUCTION Brainard Dufield, Berkeley, Calif.

Application October 5, 1954, Serial No. 460,475

6 Claims. (Cl. 189-78) My invention relates to sash construction andmore particularly to a sash bar assembly, primarily for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes for store fronts or the like.

Among the objects of my invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assemy;

(2) To provide a novel and'improved sash bar assembly for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes;

(3) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assembly for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes, and which minmizes probability ofchipping or cracking;

(4) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assembly for anchoringadjacently disposed Window panes, and in a manner which distributes grippressure more evenly along the rim of each pane, to assure betteranchorage with less likelihood of breakage;

(5) To provide a novel and improved sash bar as sembly for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes, and which cuts'installation timesubstantially in half;

(6) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assembly for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes, and which permits of a fuller cut ofthe pane, thereby minimizing chances of the pane being pulled out underexcessive wind loads;

(7) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assembly for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes, and which permits of a smooth facemember, free of visible screws or other fastening means;

(8) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assem-' bly for anchoringadjacently disposed window panes, and which can be assembled with aminimum of labor; and

(9) To provide a novel and improved sash bar assembly, components ofwhich may be formed by extrusion.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in thefollowingdescription of the same, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein,

Fig. 1 is a view in section through one embodiment of a sash barassembly incorporating the present invention, and depicting its mannerof use;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in section depicting a modified form of theembodiment of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a three dimensional view of a clip constituting an importantcomponent of the sash bar assembly of the preceding figures; and

Fig. 4 is a view of a store front to which the present invention isapplicable.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention, the assembly 1depicted in Fig. 1 involves a face member 3 having laterally spacedglass clamping edges 5. Such face member may consitute a compositemember involving a shallow channel 7 with the glass clamping edgesformed by inwardly directed flanges 9 along the edges of the channelwhile assembled within the channel, in the embodiment of Fig. 1, is ametal strip 11.

Opposing the face member is a backing member 13 of preferably narrowerbut deeper channel construction, such backing member including opposingside walls 15,

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2 17 and a joining end wall 19, with the side walls each terminating ina longitudinal glass clamping edge formed by an inwardly directed flange21, for cooperation with one of the face member clamping edges to gripan edge of a pane of glass 23 inserted therebetween in the act ofassembling the face member and backing member.

To bring the face member and the backing member into clampingrelationship following installation of the pane of glass betweencooperating clamping edges, the face member is provided with alongitudinal web 25 extending therefrom in the direction to be occupiedby the backing member, so as to enter between the side walls of thebacking member when these members are assembled.

In the embodiment of Fig. l, the web is formed integral with theinserted strip 11 of the face member, though the inserted strip elementmay be dispensed with, and the web formed integral with the shallowchannel 7, as is depicted in connection with the embodiment of Fig. 2.

The web is formed with at least one hook engageable edge on each sidethereof, preferably taking the form of a rib 27 of saw tooth sectionrunning substantially longitudinally of the web.

For cooperation with the web to effect the desired clamping action, Iprovide a plurality of U-shape spring clips 29 with each leg thereofterminating at its end in an inturned hook 31. Each such clip isadjustably threaded at its trough end to an adjusting screw 33, aplurality of which are provided at longitudinally spaced points in thejoining wall of the backing member.

At its open end, the clip is spread a distance substantially greaterthan the greatest thickness of the web, the.

overall length of the clip and mounting screw being suflicient to causethe clip to straddle the web when the face member and the backing memberare brought into cooperating relationship with respect to each other.

Within the backing member and running longitudinally of the same alongeach side wall thereof, is a cam rib 35 extending inwardly sufiicient tocause the hooked ends of a clip to approach the straddled web and gripthe' same, as the supporting screw is rotated to draw the clip towardthe joining wall of the backing member. By

thusly adjusting such screws, suflicient tension can be im' parted tothe web to effect adequate clamping of a pane of glass between the facemember and the backing member.

By forming the web with a plurality of parallel disposed clip engageableedges, in the form of parallel saw tooth ribs as depicted in Fig. 2,gripping and tensioning of the web by the clips will be effected morequickly,

thereby substantially reducing the time of installation.

In accordance with prior practice in eifecting a similar installation,the face member would be provided With a series of longitudinally spacedbolt receiving holes, While the backing member would be provided with aplurality of similarly spaced but threaded holes, and. the

two members would then be clamped together by passing a bolt througheach of such face member holes and maneuvering the bolt to effect athreaded engagement.

with the corresponding threaded opening in the backing member. Inasmuchas such operation would have to be repeated a substantial number oftimes in an installa- Patented July 29, 1958' the simple operation ofmerely tightening the plurality of adjusting screws in the backingmember, an operation which requires but one individual to perform.

Inasmuch as the web functions undertension, it may be made quite thin,in fact substantially thinner than the diameter of the bolts required inprior installations. The significance of this lies in the fact that thepanes of glass to be installed may be cut fuller so as to extend deeperinto the sash assembly, thereby rendering it less likely for such glassto be pulled out from its anchorage under heavy wind loads.

Further, with a rotatable bolt passing between the opposing edges of thepanes of glass to be installed, any contact of the glass with the boltcould result in chipping and cracking of the glass. Such chipping orcracking becomes an impossibility in the applicants constructioninasmuch as the web remains stationary with respect to the glass.

By way of further comparison with prior practice, the use oflongitudinally spaced clamping bolts connecting the face member andbacking member necessarily resulted in an uneven distribution of strainsand stresses along the clamped edges of the glass, which quite oftenresulted in cracking or breaking of the glass. Breakage from such causein the sash assembly of the present invention is minimized to theextreme, inasmuch as the clamping pressure along the edge of each paneof glass is more uniformly distributed, thereby imparting less strainsand stresses.

In this connection, the web acts as a beam to strengthen the face memberlongitudinally thereby preventing deformation of the face member,particularly in the immediate area of stress as applied through thetension screws. Thus inasmuch as the clamping pressure along the edge ofeach pane of glass is more uniformly distributed, less strains andstresses are imparted thereto and breakage minimized.

Dismantling of the sash assembly of the present invention may beeffected just as readily as the assembling of the components thereof, assuch operation merely requires the unthreading of the various tensioningscrews to relieve the tension on the web and permit the spring clips toexpand to their original open position as shown in dotted lines in theembodiment of Figure 1.

The face member and backing member lend themselves to fabrication byextrusion and this applies also to the web, whether formed as part ofthe inserted strip or as an inte ral part of the shallow channel, thusenabling these components to be fabricated most accurately andeconomically.

In view of the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present inventionfulfills all of the objec s attributed thereto, and while I haveillustrated and described the same in considerable detail, the inventionas so illustrated and described is subject to modification andalteration without departing from the fundamental principles involved,and I accordingly do not desire to be limited in my protection to suchdetails as I have illustrated and described except as may benecessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A sash bar involving a face member, a backing member, means forforcing said members into clamping engagement following installation ofglass between the same, said means involving a longitudinal webextending from said face member in the direction to be occupied by thebacking member, tensioning means mounted on said backing member, a clipaffixed to said tensioning means for engagement with said web followingassembly of said members, and means on said backing member for forciblyclosing said clip upon said web as its associated tensioning means isadjusted to tension the same.

2. A sash bar involving a face member, a backing member, means forforcing said members into clamping engagement following installation ofglass between the same, said means including a longitudinal webextending from said facing member in the direction to be occupied by thebacking member, a plurality of tensioning screws passing through saidbacking member in longitudinally spaced locations, and a substantiallytrough shaped spring clip adjustably threaded to each of said screws forstraddling and engaging said web following assembly of said members.

3. A sash bar involving a face member, a backing channel memberincluding opposing side walls and a. joining end wall, means for forcingsaid members into clamping engagement following installation of glassbetween the same, said means including a longitudinal web extending fromsaid face member in the direction to be occupied by the backing memberso as to enter between the side walls thereof when said members areassembled, said web having at least one hook engageable edge on eachside thereof and extending in a generally longitudinal direction, aplurality of tensioning screws passing through the joining wall of saidbacking member in longitudinally spaced locations, and a substantiallytrough shaped spring clip adjustably threaded to each of said screws,each of said clips having opposing legs terminating in inwardly directedhook ends for engagement with the hook engageable edges of said webfollowing assembly of said members.

4. A sash bar involving a face member, a backing channel memberincluding opposing side walls and a joining end wall, means for forcingsaid members into clamping engagement following installation of glassbetween the same, said means including a longitudinal web extending fromsaid face member in the direction to be occupied by the backing memberso as to enter between the side walls thereof when said members areassembled, said web having at least one hook engageable edge on eachside thereof and extending in a generally longitudinal direction, aplurality of tensioning screws passing through the joining wall of saidbacking member in longitudinally spaced locations, a substantiallytrough shaped spring clip adjustably threaded to each of said screws,each of said clips having opposing legs terminating in inwardly directedbook ends for engagement with the hook engageable edges of said webfollowing assembly of said members, and cam means on said side wallsalongside each spring clip for forcibly closing said spring clip uponand tensioning said web as its associated tensioning screw is adjusted.

5. A sash bar involving a face member having laterally spaced glassclamping edges running longitudinally thereof, a backing channel memberincluding opposing side walls and a joining end wall, said side wallseach terminating in a longitudinal glass clamping edge for cooperationwith one of the face member clamping edges to grip an edge of a pane ofglass, means for forcing said members into clamping engagement followinginstallation of glass between cooperating clamping edges, said meansincluding a longitudinal web extending from said face member in thedirection to be occupied by the backing member so as to enter betweenthe side walls of said backing member when said members are assembled,said web having at least one hook engageable edge on each side thereofand extending in a generally longitudinal direction, a plurality oftensioning screws passing through the joining end Wall of said backingmember in longitudinally spaced locations, a substantially trough shapedspring clip adjustably threaded to each of said tensioning screws, eachof said clips having opposing legs terminating in inwardly directed hookends for engagement with the hook engageable edges of said web followingassembly of said members, and cam means on said side walls alongsideeach spring clip for forcibly closing said spring clip upon andtensioning said web as its associated tensioning screw is adjusted.

6. A sash bar involving a face member having laterally spaced glassclamping edges running longitudinally thereof, a backing channel memberincluding opposing side walls and a joining end wall, said side wallseach terminating in a longitudinal glass clamping edge for cooperationwith one of the face member clamping edges to grip an edge of a pane ofglass, means for forcing said members into clamping engagement followinginstallation of glass between cooperating clamping edges, said meansincluding a longitudinal web extending from said face member in thedirection to be occupied by the backing member so as to enter betweenthe side walls of trough shaped spring clip adjustably threaded to eachof said tensioning screws, each of said clips having opposing legsterminating in inwardly directed hook ends for engagement with the hookengageable edges of said web following assembly of said members, and cammeans on said side walls alongside each spring clip for forcibly closingsaid spring clip upon and tensioning said web as its associatedtensioning screw is adjusted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,950,822 Siegwarth Mar. 13, 1934 2,620,525 Ketchum Dec. 9, 1952 FOREIGNPATENTS 352,263 Germany Apr. 22, 1922

